Walter Magazine / Drink: Tazza Kitchen’s crafty cocktails

Tazza Kitchen’s inviting atmosphere, with its exposed wood beams and lush planters, lures in Cameron Village shopppers. It’s the audible merry buzz, though, that encourages them to stay. “There are nights when we know almost everybody in here,” says manager Reggie McGee. “As people are walking out the door from their table, they’re stopping and talking to people at the bar.” Lead bartender Mara Sudol says that’s what infuses her cocktail menu: Much of her inspiration comes from “what’s going on with people here in the neighborhood,” she says. “There’s a community here. We’re a nice stopping point.”

The contemporary-casual eatery serves a low-key menu of wood-fired fare including pizza, tacos, and salads with an extensive wine and beer menu to match. But the cocktail menu alone makes Tazza worth a visit. “I try to use adventurous ingredients but keep it approachable,” Sudol says. “I love craft cocktails and I want other people to love craft cocktails. They shouldn’t be intimidated by the ingredient list.”